Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas, occurring either suddenly (acute) or as ongoing damage (chronic). Acute pancreatitis hospitalizes about 275,000 Americans yearly, while chronic pancreatitis affects roughly 50 per 100,000 people. Current treatment focuses on managing pain, replacing enzymes, and addressing underlying causes like gallstones or alcohol use.
What's actually going on in research
Trials are testing anti-inflammatory drugs to prevent organ damage during acute attacks, new pain management approaches for chronic pancreatitis, and enzyme formulations that work better. Researchers are studying whether early endoscopic procedures prevent progression, how gut bacteria influence inflammation, and genetic factors that drive recurrent pancreatitis in some families.
Anti-inflammatory targets
Drugs that block specific inflammatory pathways may prevent the cascade of organ damage that follows acute pancreatitis. Some target immune cells that rush to the pancreas, while others aim to reduce calcium overload inside pancreatic cells.
Pain mechanisms
Research is clarifying why chronic pancreatitis causes such severe pain even after inflammation settles. Trials are testing nerve blocks, drugs that target pain signaling in the pancreas, and combinations that address both inflammation and nerve changes.
Microbiome role
Studies show that gut bacteria composition changes during pancreatitis and may influence severity. Trials are testing whether probiotics or other microbiome interventions reduce complications or recurrence.
What to know before you search
Eligibility typically depends on pancreatitis type (acute or chronic), severity, prior treatments, and whether an underlying cause like gallstones has been addressed.
What types of trials are currently open
- Treatment trials — Testing drugs to reduce inflammation during acute pancreatitis or prevent complications like infected fluid collections and organ failure.
- Pain management trials — Testing medications, nerve blocks, or combinations aimed at chronic pancreatitis pain that hasn't responded to standard approaches.
- Enzyme trials — Testing new pancreatic enzyme formulations or dosing strategies to improve digestion and reduce pain in chronic pancreatitis.
- Procedure trials — Comparing endoscopic approaches like stent placement or stone removal to medication or surgery for chronic pancreatitis.
- Prevention studies — Following people with recurrent acute pancreatitis to identify who progresses to chronic disease and whether interventions can prevent that progression.
Recently added Pancreatitis trials
A Phase 1 Study to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetics, and Food Effect of CBT-248 in Healthy Adult Participants
This study will test CBT-248, an experimental medicine being developed for chronic pancreatitis. Chronic pancreatitis causes ongoing inflammation and damage to the pancreas, which can cause pain and problems with digestion and blood sugar control. The study will involve 32 healthy adults. It will look at side effects at different doses, measure the amount of medicine in the blood over time, and examine whether taking it with food changes these amounts. Participants will be divided into four groups of eight. In each group, six people will receive CBT-248 and two will receive a placebo, a capsule that looks like the medicine but contains no active drug. Treatment will be assigned by chance. Participants and the study staff assessing them will not know who receives CBT-248 or placebo. Three groups will receive one dose after fasting. Participants will enter the clinic two days before dosing and may leave the day after dosing, once the required checks are complete. They will return for follow-up visits four and six days after dosing. The fourth group will receive two doses on separate occasions: one after fasting and one after starting a high-fat, high-calorie meal. Each person will receive the same treatment, CBT-248 or placebo, on both occasions. The second dose will be given after the required safety results and measurements of medicine levels have been reviewed. Each occasion will involve a clinic stay and follow-up visits as described above. During the study, participants will have blood tests, physical examinations, checks of blood pressure and other vital signs, and tests that record the heart's electrical activity. The study team will also ask about side effects.
Diagnostic Utility of Protein Biomarkers in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma
The goal of this prospective multicenter observational study is to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of blood-based protein biomarkers for detecting pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) in adults aged 18 years and older. The study will investigate whether these biomarkers can help distinguish pancreatic cancer from chronic pancreatitis and mucinous pancreatic lesions, including intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) and mucinous cystic neoplasms (MCNs). The main questions it aims to answer are: Can blood-based protein biomarkers accurately identify patients with PDAC and distinguish them from patients with chronic pancreatitis or mucinous pancreatic lesions? Does combining protein biomarkers with CA 19-9 improve diagnostic accuracy compared with using individual biomarkers alone? Are protein biomarker levels associated with tumor stage, tumor size, or the presence of metastases in patients with PDAC? Researchers will compare blood levels of protein biomarkers across four groups of patients: those with PDAC, chronic pancreatitis, IPMNs, and MCNs. The biomarkers will include GDF-15, ICAM-1, osteopontin, CXCL10, HGF, Nectin-4, periostin, and VEGF-A. Participants will: Provide informed consent before enrollment. Provide an additional blood sample for protein biomarker measurement, collected alongside routine blood tests and before any oncological or interventional treatment. Have relevant clinical information, medical history, laboratory results, and imaging findings collected for analysis.
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